Illuminating fixture



eb., Q0, `hi948.v w.uw. HEADINGS 2,435,715 I ILLUMINAT'ING- FIXTURE Filed June 23. 1944 l Il 'Il I 20 /f//f i Patented Feb. 10, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,435,715 ILLUMmATINGfFDcrit-' William W. Headings-Kirtland Ohio'.- assi'gnoi; to" P'ittsburghlt'ector Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., aoorporaton of New Jersey Applicationuunezs, 1944-;- SeriairNti. sli-15723n llj This invention relates to illuminatingl-` fixtures and, in particular, to a xture utilizing one or more fluorescent tubes as a light source. Fluorescent tubes have met with wide acceptance for interior illumination in recent years. Because of the relatively great length of tube required for a high output of light, however, the fixtures which have been provided for lighting by uorescent tubes have been ungainly in appearance and quite lacking in the eye appeal characteristic of many designs of xtures for incandescent lamps. I have invented a novel form of xture particularly suited for fluorescent tubes, utilizing tubes in circular form, thereby providing a compact and attractive iixture which, at the same time,

is characterized by high output and good distribution of light.

In a preferred embodiment, my invention comprises a hanger or other suitable support and an assembly of coaxial baffles of progressively increasing size, supported thereon. Between each pair of bales, which are preferably cylindrical, I dispose an annular or circular fluorescent tube. The bailles serve to prevent glare resulting from direct rays and also tend to redirect and diffuse the light from the tubes. The bailles are open at the top and bottom, thus providing both direct and indirect illumination.

Further novel features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment. In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view; and

Figure 2 is a view partly in section along the plane of line II-II of Figure 1 and partly in side elevation.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the fixture of my invention indicated generally at I is adapted to be suspended from the ceiling by means of a tubular hanger II, for example, provided with the usual canopy I2. A flanged disc I3 is secured on the lower end of the hanger by nuts I4 and has radial arms I5 in the form' of metal straps extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom. A ring I6 is secured to the upper and outer ends of the straps.

A plurality of nesting coaxial bailles I1, I8, I9 and 20 are supported on the disc I3, ring I6 and arms I5. The baffle II is secured to the ange of the disc I3. The bail-le 20 is secured to the ange of the ring I6. The baiiles I8 and I9 are secured to iingers 2| depen-ding from the straps or arms I5. The bales are preferably cylindrical and are stepped downwardly from the outermost 1 Claim (Cl. 24U-$1.12)

`2' to the innermost; assliown in the drawing. In other Words, the baffles are spaced axially as well as radially although they overlap to some extent axially. The baiiles may be of any suitable material and may be opaque or translucent. They may be of metal, glass or plastic by way of example. The mode of attaching the baffles to their supports will depend on the material of which they are composed.

Circular or annular fluorescent tubes 22, 23 and 24 are disposed between each pair of adjacent bales near the upper edges thereof. Each tube has diametrically opposite terminals 25 from which conductors extend for connecting the lamps in the known manner. The tubes are supported by spring fingers 26 depending from the arms I5. The ngers 26 supporting the tubes 22 and 23 may conveniently be formed integral with the fingers 2l and secured to the straps I5 as by spot welding. i

The baiiles I 'I, I8, etc., are open at the top and bottom so that the light emitted from the tubes 22, 23 and 24 illuminates the ceiling above the xture as well as the fioor space therebelow On the right-hand half of Figure 2, chain lines 21 indicate the cut-off cones. From points beyond the outermost cone, the tubes themselves are not visible. The location of the tubes near the upper edges of the bailles keeps the size of the outermost cone within proper limits. At the same time, the tubes strongly illuminate the space immediately below the fixture in the region in which it is very unlikely that a person would have occasion to raise his eyes to an angle such as to bring the tubes into his range of vision. The light delivered upwardly from the tubes, of

course, falls on the ceiling and furnishes indirect illumination. Chain lines 28 on the left-hand side of Figure 2 illustrate the redirection of both upward and downward rays from the tubes by the surfaces of the ballles. It is evident from the drawing which, of course, shows only a few of the multiude. of rays, that the xture provides excellent distribution of light both above and below it.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides an attractive iixture provided with a sufficient total length of fluorescent tubes to produce a, rather high output of light in a small space. The fixture is quite simple in construction and can therefore be manufactured at relatively low cost. There is practically no place for dirt to collect but such cleaning as may be necessary can easily be elected on removing the tubes. This is a simple operation since they are supported solely by a plurality of spring fingers. The reecting surfaces, i. e., the interior and exterior of the bailles, are all Vertical and thus not likely to accumulate dirt. The stepped relation of the baffles further improves the appearance of the xture since it provides a series of cylinders having partly exposed illuminated surfaces. This avoids the unilluminated condition of the exterior characteristic of most indirect lixtures.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In an illuminating fixture, a plurality of radially spaced cylindrical baliles, means for supporting the baflies in coaxial arrangement, the baffles being stepped downwardly relative to each other fromv the outermost to the'innermost, circular 4 luminous tubes between adjacent cylinders, said tubes being spaced along the common axis of the baiiles, suspending means extending through the bailles and secured to the innermost baille. and arms extending radially therefrom supporting the remaining baffles and said tubes.

WILLIAM W. HEADINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,142,395 Herron Jan, 3, 1939 2,303,747 Kuhl Dec. 1, 1942 2,280,534 Masterson et al. Apr. 21, 1942 2,298,961l Miller Oct. 13, 1942 2,309,676 Schmidling Feb. 2, 1943 1,935,729 Rosenbaum Nov. 21, 1933 2,350,462 Johns June 6, 1944 

